Hey, it's Vlad.
So today I had one of my usual snarky, and yet
paradoxically compassionate chats ready to go.
You know the type,
the ones where it's unclear whether l'm being a menace or a mentor.
I've been called a cross between Winnie the Pooh and Deadpool more than once, and frankly, I wear that like a badge of honor.
But due to tragic events, I decided to post a different kind of chat. I have a story to tell. One that won't end in a punchline, but hopefully, in a pause.
This story takes place in a large meadow on the edge of a forest. In that meadow lived the most remarkable bird. It had red feathers the color of a setting sun...warm, bright, unmistakable. It was also different in other ways. One wing was slightly shorter than the other, and its tail feathers had a shape all their own.
But what truly set this bird apart was its song.
While the other birds whistled "tweet-al-dee," this bird sang "tweet-al-doo."
These divergent traits sometimes made life difficult for the bird but it just pressed thru, always singing a happy song. Everyone in the forest and the meadow always looked forward to waking up and hearing its song.
The bird's unique features actually helped it do what it loved most...helping others.
Whenever an animal was in trouble, the bird would flutter overhead and sing a distress call in its instantly recognizable voice. That sound traveled. It called help from every corner of the meadow.
There was once a baby fox hopelessly caught in a thorny bush. The bird responded instantly, hovering and singing. Rescuers arrived, and the young fox was saved and returned to its family. No one asked the bird to do this...It just did.
Over time, the bird became known for its heroics. It didn't seek fame, but fame found it anyway. And with that attention came something darker.
At first, it was just one cantankerous badger. Then the other animals joined in, even some birds. Creatures who once sang with it now squawked behind its back. Normally harmless animals became predators.
They would find the smallest problems, such as singing too loudly or too early, and instead of acknowledging no bird is perfect, frame it as some sort of character defect.
And that went on... until one morning, the meadow awoke
Not peaceful silence. Heavy silence. Painful silence.
The bird’s song was gone.
And the meadow felt different. The wind sounded heavier. The shadows stretched longer. The animals paused. And for the first time, they realized what they'd lost.
Because sometimes, we don't notice how much someone carries, until they can't anymore.
So today, I want to talk to you, my Vladiators.
You're my people. You show up. You care. You advocate.
I often ask you to be Canid Crusaders. But now, I'm asking something more. I'm asking you to be Compassion Crusaders too.
Yes, there's injustice in the world, plenty of it. And yes, it needs to be called out. But before you do, take a moment. Examine your motivations. Check that your heart is in the right place.
That your sword is made of truth...not ego. And remember, social media shouldn't be a gladiator arena, where we battle to see who can inflict the most damage to win the adoration of bloodthirsty spectators. Lead with compassion. Even when you strongly disagree...Especially when you strongly disagree.
What I'm asking, in the most subtle way I know, is this.
If you see someone giving, echo it back.
If you see someone tired, lend a hand.
If someone's voice is shaking, don't correct them. Catch them.
Because you never know when someone is one sharp word away from silence.
And right now, more than ever... We need all the songs we can get.
Vlad Out.